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By Rabbi Bruce Kadden , Temple Beth El This weekend Jews celebrate Simchat Torah, as we complete the cycle of reading the Torah with the last verses of D’varim (Deuteronomy) and begin with the first verses of Bereshit (Genesis), symbolizing the continuous reading and study of Torah. In all synagoguesContinue Reading

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By Rabbi Daniel Weiner , Temple De Hirsch Sinai The season of forgiveness is upon us. But it follows a tough summer for our people. Mel Gibson’s Jew-hating rant gave proof to the wisdom of gematria: in goes the wine, and out come the secrets (although, in his case, itContinue Reading

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By Rabbi Shalom D. Farkash , Chabad of the Central Cascades ‘God, how long?’ (Psalms 90:13) The story is told of a simple, unlettered Jew who kept a tavern on a distant crossroads, many weeks’ journey from the nearest Jewish community, who one year he decided to make the tripContinue Reading

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By Rabbi Chaim Levine , LivingJudaism ‘I wish some people would grow up.’ ‘Some people just don’t think.’ ‘Some people are so insensitive.’ ‘Some people are so opinionated.’ We’ve all thought and said these things at some point. We’ve all felt amazed at the behavior and thinking of ‘some people.’Continue Reading

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By Rabbi Dov Gartenberg , Panim Hadashot I used to be a congregational rabbi. I remember a conversation with a much-respected member of the synagogue during a fierce communal controversy. He told me that he taught all his children never to become rabbis. ‘It’s not a nice job for aContinue Reading

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By Rabbi Will Berkovitz , Hillel at the University of Washington Before I moved to Seattle I used to work in Las Vegas. I wasn’t a dealer at the Bellagio or doing weddings dressed as Elvis, but at times I felt that way. I was working at a Conservative synagogueContinue Reading

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By Rabbi Zari Weiss , Special to JTNews Many of us are familiar with the story told at Purim. A young maiden, Esther, is taken by the king to be his new wife. As her uncle Mordechai bids her, however, she hides her identity as a Jew. Meanwhile Haman, theContinue Reading

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By Rabbi Cindy G. Enger , Congregation Beth Israel, Bellingham It is a great privilege to work with candidates for conversion to Judaism. What an honor it is to accompany and guide other human beings as they take significant steps along the way of their particular spiritual journeys! We rabbisContinue Reading

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By Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum , Congregation Herzl-Ner Tamid Rabbi David Wolpe of Los Angeles recently spurred controversy by suggesting that the Conservative movement should change its name to something more exciting. While Rabbi Wolpe’s remarks created the most interest among Conservative Jews, underlying his comments is an issue that shouldContinue Reading

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By Rabbi David Fine , Union for Reform Judaism As both Hanukkah and Christmas approach I get concerned about Silent Night. I am not referring to the song sung by carolers, but of silence during dark moments, of not speaking and not acting when the situation demands our words andContinue Reading

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By Rabbi Sholom Ber Levitin , Chabad-Lubavitch of the Pacific Northwest Caring about people and issues is a very important character trait. As young boys, growing up in Hassidic homes in a Hassidic community, influenced and inspired by the personal example of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (ofContinue Reading